In unpacking the journeys of refugees and migrants in Chapter Three, it was clear that many of those crossing the Mediterranean in 2015 had not travelled directly from their countries of origin but rather had left months, or even years, beforehand. Some of those who crossed the Mediterranean in 2015 had a specific destination in mind at the point of departure from their home country and had stopped for only short periods of time in order to rest, settle, work, obtain resources or connect with onward transport. Their migration to Europe can therefore be regarded as a single journey, albeit with various stops or interruptions. For many others, including Niyat, who we met earlier and who is quoted above, the situation was very different. Niyat and her husband Michael did not initially intend to travel to Europe but decided to move on from Sudan because they did not feel safe.

In this context it is important to examine the decision making of those who spent extended periods of time in a number of other countries and the reasons why they decided to continue their journeys onwards towards Europe. These reasons included a lack of protection and security, the inability to find work or access services and the need for hope – and a sense of the future – for themselves and their families.

A lack of protection and security

The findings of our research point to the importance of differentiating between the primary drivers of migration from countries of origin and secondary drivers which lead to further migration and propel people onwards from the countries to which they move. In many cases people’s decision to move on was based on concerns about safety and security. For example, Syrians living in Lebanon often felt too close to the ongoing conflict at home, or feared that they might be located by Assad government officials and persecuted because of their political activities or affiliations.